Under the Deodars

asant orch

all our gai

d bless all

its with

ost B

nger generation. The younger generation does not want instruction, being perfectly willing to instruct if any one will listen to it. None the les

eople know that a woman is the only infallible thing in this world, except Government Paper of the '79 issue, bearing interest at four and a half per cent. Yet, we have to remember that six consecutive days of reh

d, for she was in no sense 'a woman's woman.' And it was a woman's tiffin, the door

after tiffin was over and the two were comfortably settled in t

at ladies of a certain age call each other 'dear girl,' just as commissioners of

that an imaginary man should be alw

lp is generally drying at you

in the habit of riding all across Simla in the R

laugh. One of my most devoted admirers. When the duff came some one really ought to

te,' said Mrs. Mallowe. 'Did h

o. He explained his importance as a

don't bel

the other side. Well, as I wa

' said Mrs. Mallowe pensively, s

play them off one against the other," said The Mussuck, shovelling down his ice by

long and merrily. '

observed in my dealings with you." The Mussuck swelled with pride.

sbee, is the secret of our Government." And I daresay if we could get to The

I like The Mussuck, and I won't hav

l of sanity, and hit Tim on the nose with the paper-cutter, ple

I'm wearied of thi

I always said that Ro

ack, and if I fasted, the wrinkles would come, and never, n

return it. Ye-es, we are both

n my bones," as Mrs. Crossley sa

ho

el it. I want to be a

u've wits enough for

lly, if you heap compliments on me like this, I shall cease t

inating and slimmest man in Asia, and he'll

ellectual Power not a gas-power. P

ested her head on her hand. 'Hear the words

u talk s

see that you are goin

fe at least, never one that I co

composedly. 'It is impossible to start a salon i

t why? It se

fficult. How many clever

aid Mrs. Hauksbee, witho

n would thank you for that

,' said Mrs. Ha

p. All his ideas and powers of conversation he really used to be a good talker, even to his wife in the old days are taken from him by this this kitchen-sink of a Government. That's t

re are s

two objectionable sets. The Civilian who'd be delightful if he had the military man's knowledge

vilians culchaw? I never

good material but not polished. They can't help themselves, poor dears. A Civilian

militar

. The young of both species are horrible. Y

said Mrs. Hau

eir own colonels and commissioners at the door to turn th

hered all your men and women together, what would you do with them? Make them talk? They would all with

in amount of wis

a salon, to be any good at all, must be permanent. In two seasons your roomful would be scattered all over Asia. We are only little bits of di

flesh,' interpolated

en and women alike, have no influence. Co

lling road, for all Simla was abroad to s

er in the land, though he does eat like a costermonger. There's Colonel Blone, and General Grucher, and S

Mrs. Hauksbee piously. 'Sir Henry

t weld the Departments together and make you mistress of India, dear. And these creatures won't talk administrative "shop" in a crowd your salon bec

Gymkhana, or the sins of their last nurse.

an talk to them. Your salon would suit their views admirably, if you respecte

little idea! Kala juggahs in a salon

a woman who has. I have preached and expounded

en in the crowd below who had raised their hats to her 'these vermin shall not rejoice in a new Scandal Point or an extra

ot Abana an

course. I'm tired of everything and everybody, from a moonl

r or later. Have you nerve

nd Simla, spreading horrible stories about me! No more of anything that is thoroughly wearying, abominable, and detestable, but, all the same, makes life worth the having. Yes! I see it all! Don't interrupt, Polly, I'm inspired. A mauve and white striped "cloud" round my excellent shoulders, a seat in the fifth row of the Gaiety, and both horses sold. Delightful vision! A comfortable arm-chair, situated in three different draughts, at every ball-room; and nice, large, sensible shoes for all the couples to stumble over as they go into the ve

can you be

ith that mauve and white "cloud" over my head, while the wet soaks into my dear, old, venerable feet, and Tom swears and shouts for the mem-sahib's gharri. Then home to bed at half-past eleven! Truly

ight a pair, Polly, with red flannel or list, is it? that they put in

our arms about in that idiotic manner! Reco

sing for The Fallen Angel. Look! There's

enerable Indian administ

ill tell me all about it softening the details for fear of shocking me. That boy is too good to live, Polly. I've serious thoughts of

fectation of indignation, 'shall you tiffin

dance, ride, frivol, talk scandal, dine out, and appropriate the legitimate captives of any woman I choose, until I d-r-

oom. Mrs. Mallowe followed a

hief. 'I've been dining out the last ten nights, and rehearsing in

pity or ask her to lie down, but gave her a

ugh that too, d

of fun on her face. 'In '84, wasn't it? Yo

in a superior and

n Influence

big toe, did you? I tried to get into their set once, but they cast me o

Theosophilande

husband says is known b

lasting im

e in the least. I hated the man. Will you stop smilin

allowe

hat it is absolutely P

I should never h

promotion wa

allowe

him against th

her

Dugald Delane's pri

ird

hy

now. If I live, he shall continue to be successful. Yes, I will put him upon the straight

e a most extra

ll. You diffuse yourself, dear; and though al

choose a pr

ussuck to the Hawley Boy, you gain

d y

e his guide, philosopher, and friend. You'll find it the most interesting occupation tha

and say to him, "Now, understand that there must be no flirtation. Do exactly what I tell

owe, with an unfathomable smil

ibble tric

lot of

's had an

ame all t

ery

t the feet of Mrs. Mallowe and gathered wisdom. The end of the Confe

at the matter is not half so easy as it looks. Any woman even the Topsham G

imon Stylites looking down upon men for these these y

Mrs. Mallowe laughed to herself. Then she grew suddenly sober. 'I wonder whether I've d

et at a Monday Pop. 'W

rs. Hauksbee: her eyes we

? I'm sorry I ever sp

e third row; fourth from the end

probable and impossible pe

ll about it. S-s-ss! That woman's voice always reminds me of an Underground train

s it follow that h

nes' burra-khana. I liked his eyes, and I talked to him. Next day he called. Next day we went for a ride together, and

a boy. What are you going to do wit

n her little gloved fingers 'First, my dear, I shall dress him properly. At present his raiment is a disgrace, and he wears a dress-shirt

eat deal about him considering th

is by talking to her about his own sweet self. If the woman listens without yawning,

ome c

uide, philosopher, and friend, and he shall become a success as great a success as your friend. I always wondered how that man got on. Did The Mussuck come

y Department have demoralised you. One does

I only asked for information. Give me three month

But I'm sorry that I was weak e

nt,"' quoted Mrs. Hauksbee from The Fallen Angel; and the conv

he had made, and thank Providence that under the conditions of the day he had come even so far, he stood upon the dead-centre of his career. And when a man stands still he feels the slightest impulse from without. Fortune had ruled that Otis Yeere should be, for the first part of his service, one of the rank and file who are ground up in the wheels of the Administration; losing heart and soul, and mind and strength, in the process. Until steam replaces manual power in the working of the Empire, there must always be this percentage must always be the men who are used up, expended, in the mere mechanical routine. For t

ng, sweltering Station, the ill-kempt City, and the undisguised insolence of the Municipality that babbled away the lives of men. Life was cheap, however. The soil spawned humanity, as it bred frogs in the Rains, and the gap of the sickness of one season was filled to overflowing by the fecund

l. They come up here sometimes. But I did

clothes wore rather the mark of the ages. It will be seen t

her experiment: learned what manner of life he had led in what she vaguely called 'those awful cholera districts'; learned, too, but this knowledge came later, what manner of life he had purposed to lead

until the man is properly dressed, at least. Great heavens, is it pos

reckon false modesty a

. 'Oh you men, you men! Here are our Punjabis growling because you've monopolised th

ied herself, by a glance through the fringe

olised the nicest woman in it, and the Punjabis were growling. The notion justified a mild glow of v

in the day when a luncher at the Club said spitefully, 'Well, for a debilitated Ditcher, Yeere,

ch Ridge in her 'rickshaw, looked down upon him approvingly. 'He's learning to carry himself as if he were a man, instead of a piece of furniture, and,' she

e perspiration could cross one, even to talk to Mrs. Hauksbee, as though rooms were meant to be crossed. He was for the first time in ni

ugh the fields with in Lower Bengal. You see I have to begin from the very beginning haven't I? But you'll admit, won't yo

file put the matter brutally when he asked Yeere, in reference to nothing, 'And who has

dn't mean it, you know,'

b down, Otis climb down, and get all that beastly affectation knocke

s. Hauksbee. He had come to look

ogise for what your friend called "side." Never! It's a man's business to be insole

Hauksbee preached to Otis Yeere the Great Gospel of Conceit, illustratin

he personal argument, 'you'll apo

'That's another thing alto

g?' thought M

that,' s

present,' she

ou know. When he waxed fat, then he kicked. It's the hav

He'd have been hiding in the Club till the last day

ou be? You have

Wh

by explaining; but I know you have. What was that heap of manuscript

ains! A sheet of water with the railway-embankment and the snakes sticking out, and, in the summer, green flies and green squash. The people would die of fear if you shook a dogwhip at 'em. But they know yo

e laughed

ecessity that you should

t. How'm I to

ed a high test what do you call it? in the beginning, and, except for the few who have gone altogether to the bad, you can all work hard. Asking does the rest. Call it cheek, call it insolence, call it anything you like, but ask! Men argue yes, I know what men say that a man, by the mere audacity of his request, must have some good in him. A weak man doesn't say: "Give me this and that." He whines: "Why haven't I been given this and that?" If you were in the Army, I should say learn to spin plates or play a tambourine with your toes. As it is ask! You belong to a Service that ought to be able to command the Channel Fleet, or set a leg at twe

n aback by the unexpected eloquence. 'I

ed paw that rested on the turned-back 'rickshaw hood, and, looking the man full in the face, said te

' answered Oti

reamed eight years ago, but through them all ran, as sheet-lightni

e of his juniority, the greatest authority on the aboriginal Gullals. No one quite knew who or what the Gullals were till The Mussuck, who had been calling on Mrs. Hauksbee, and prided himself upon picking people's brains, explained they were a tribe of ferocious hillmen, somewhere near Sikkim, whose friendship even the Great Indian Empire would find it worth her while to secure. Now we know that Otis Yeere had showed Mrs. Hauksbee his MS. notes of six years' standing on these same Gullals. He had told her, too, how, sick and shaken with the fever their negligence had bred, crippled

nto a brown study. Talk now, and talk you

exes on equal ground an advantage never intended by Providence, who fashioned Man on one day and Woman on another, in sign that neither should know m

elf because he was believed in, Otis Yeere stood ready for any fortune that might befall, certain that it would be good. He would fight for

entable thing befell, bred directly by a statement of Mrs.

in of that?' s

writing abou

rs. Hauksbee put it in discussi

y Otis is a donkey at the last Gymkhana. Planted his forefeet and refused to

rove of staring, but on this occasio

far,'she said. 'Speak to him

t to-nigh

utiously. 'Men are never themselves quite at

a day to lose. Are you going? No? Then sit up for me, there's a

g, looking long and earnestly into the

iot! A raving, positive idio

Mrs. Mallowe's house, at

said Mrs. Mallowe, but her eyes sh

wanted an explanation, and he said Oh! I haven't patience with such idiots! You know what I said about going to Darjiling next year? It doesn't matter to me where I go. I'd have changed the Station and lost the rent to have saved

f one who has successfully tracked an o

nything in the wide world. He could have gone to the world's end. I would have helped him. I made him, didn't I, Polly? Didn't I create tha

erstand your devo

d have killed him then and there. What right had this man this Thin

that,

rly ready to cry with rage. He raved and I stormed I'm afraid we must have made an awful noise in our kala juggah. Protect my character, dear,

eproach,' purre

dy, pecking dab, just on the end of the chin here.' Mrs. Hauksbee tapped her masculine little chin with her fan. 'Then, of course, I was furiously angry, and told

efore or af

before. Isn't it pe

d judgment till tomorrow

bouquet of Annandale roses for Mrs. Hauksbee to

tent,' said Mrs. Mallowe. 'What'

e, another accomplishment that she had tau

Is it his own, do you think? Oh, that I e

and in view of the facts of the case, as

hast trod

's a world

as fair

h things no

hast stepp

ot one c

d a heart hav

of a fair w

ee angrily, her eyes filling with tears; 'ther

should think by this, that he has cleared completely too. My experience of men is that when t

my sorrows in a m

ur vanity, I should say that you've done

about a man!' said Mrs.